Andriod Phone Apps

onesea

onesea

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Ok, for those of us who are "I"phobic for our own reasons what apps for Andriod do you know of out there for us "special" people :D

There are several I knew of then I started looking, there are plenty any you would recommend or not!


Boatie (Pay): on Andriod it does not do the currents (Iphone version does :mad:) you can get the other info just as quick online.

Anchor Alarm (Free): Are there any that phone another phone :confused:

Marina Codes (Pay): Pay App Personnally I text it to my crew then I have a copy to!

Tide Prediction (Free): Do not think there are many stations in uk :(

Marine Weather (Free): UK Edition:

Navionics (Pay): Is it worth it? If you already have chart plotter what extras does it give? Advice please :o

Compass App: Many free ones any recommended?

Google Maps/ Earth (free):

Sailors Log (free): Course & Speed in Knots also able to record tracks?

Boat Propeller Calculator (Free):

Mobile Grib (Pay): Any Good?

Marine Boat Log (free) : Maintenance Type Program.

UK Weather (Free): Any Good?

SailDroid (free): Basic wpt to wpt app.

Basic Regatta Timer (free):

Marine Traffic (free): AIS on your phone :D

sailingalmanac.co.uk: Web Based

Any more you would recommend?

None Nautical

Color flashlight HD (free): Thanks Markdj.

Flashlight (free): Uses the flash if you have one (Can be VERY bright)

If people are interested I will update above as and when...
 
Last edited:
I got the navionics app and I do like it. The grib forecast is especially good and nice and quick to use. Charts can be updated for free too by clearing the downloaded chart data and then selecting the area you want and downloading.

Tides and currents is a new one that works offline, uses the free data for UK ports and is visually very nice. You can input any date too and gives sun and moon rise/set times.

For buoy data and shipping forecast UK marine weather is fast and free.

Convert pad is handy too though not strictly marine, I use it for liters to gallons etc.

Color flashlight HD is also handy and I have it on my lock screen for instant light if I need it. I use widget locker to customize the lock screen for my most frequently used apps.

Mark
 
Whilst I have not used the Navionics app, I have been to a Cruising Association meeting where a sailing couple had found them useful when they went to parts of the world where there simply were no reliable paper charts. They were using them on an I-phone.
 
elton said:
Any ideas for boaty apps you'd like to see, that don't already exist? I'm just completing a big Android app and looking for something new to write.
Click to expand...

A bit of Fred Drift, but if you have got your head around the Android rooting protocols, perhaps you have a few pointers.
I have been trying to manipulate a couple of cheap android tablets to use apps from Google's Market. I have Navionics and a few other marine apps on my HTC Desire but the idea of having the same on a sub-£100 tablet with a 7-inch screen is appealing.
The problem is that Google's licensing arrangements with device manufacturers prevents access to the Market if the user's Google account is not associated with a phone or tablet they approve of.
So - you can't download the apps.
I have managed to download CM93 charts to a tablet but of course the application will not work. I have found an application called MXMariner for Android but again, it is only available via Market and there are no European charts available.
I could buy a Samsung Galaxy tablet, but at roughly the same cost of a Netbook that defeats the object of the exercise.
Thoughts?
 
I think your only option is to persuade the app writers to make their apps available outside of the market, and that ain't going to happen as they'd lose too much business as Google would cut them off from the market if they infringe the rules.

I have written some apps for internal use here that are downloaded off a local server which works fine although you have to manage upgrades manually. Or write an upgrade manager.

I don't think you can "break" the market in that way, or at least if you can you'd need to be pretty low level techy.
 
I very much doubt that it's possible to break Android's security model. In any case, hacking legitimate and desirable software to make it appealing to cheapskates isn't a career direction I'd be comfortable with.
 
onesea said:
Ok, for those of us who are "I"phobic for our own reasons what apps for Andriod do you know of out there for us "special" people :D.
Click to expand...

I am not into Android so am approaching this from first principles. The weather apps seem to fall into two broad categories. Those that give GRIB files and those that do not.

For those that give free GRIBs, there is unlikely to be any difference in the quality of the forecasts. It is probable that all use the GFS. For example, iNavX uses the GFS but also has the USN COAMPS.

Differences will be in ease of use, flexibility in defining the area for which data are requested, grid spacing, time intervals and number of days. These all determine size of download. Also, of course, there will be cosmetic differences in presentation.

Some of the non-GRIB services provide GMDSS forecasts. Others are likely to be based on the GFS and provide information by interpolation. The GMDSS texts, of course, have human input. The interpolation between grid points are likely to have no human input or checking.
 
Weather Pro

For Rain Radar and Satellite I use Weather Pro (pay £1.99?) only complaint is sometimes it will not load the radar/satellite data and needs the cache to be manually emptied to get it to work.
 
Over 60 Apps!

OK So my count that makes over 60 Apps.
I have tried to avoid real drift from the nautical theme unless it is really helpful or little known...

Where possible I have tried to sort them.. The comments are mine and everyone else's so do not blame me I am just assimilating the information!

I am doing this as much for me as anyone. Last time I updated a phone I did not have my apps recorded and had forgotten about some good ones!

Anchor Alarms
Anchor Alarm (Free) (by MedIT GbR)
Anchor Watch (Free) (By Jokaboat)
Anchor Watch Pro - (Pay) sends SMS

Compass
Marine compass

GPS Essentials
GPS Logger (free) Low power tracker.
GPS Test
Gpsstatus for cog / sog etc, you can set units to whatever you want. Radar mode works well

Marine Boat Log (free) : Maintenance Type Program.*
Personal Marine / Boat log
Sailors Log (free): Course & Speed in Knots also able to record tracks?*
Basic Regatta Timer (free):
Boat Log - boaty log book
Boat Propeller Calculator (Free):
Knots guide:
Marina Codes (Pay): Pay App Personnally I text it to my crew then I have a copy to!
Marine Traffic.(Free) Not exactly real time AIS but fun to see how busy the channel is!
sailingalmanac.co.uk: (Free) Web Based Looks great on a small screen
Sidereal Clock Gives UTC and LST; Local Apparent and Local Mean Solar;
Signals. Everything from the phonetic alphabetic through morse code to Scuba diving hand signals.

Navigation
Boatie (Pay): Weather tides and other stuff on Andriod it does not do the currents (Iphone version does*)
Google Maps (Free)
My Tracks
Navionics Pay (17.99?) Having heard your reviews I think I might be bying this one.
RMaps
SailDroid (free): Basic wpt to wpt app.

Tide
Tide 7 (£1.79): lots of UK stations - Based on Easy Tide.
Tide Prediction (Free): Do not think there are many stations in uk*
Tideapp (Free): Short of ports in UK?
TideoftheDay. The table is a bit iffy but the tidal graph is pretty spot on.

Weather
Marine Weather (Free): UK Edition:*
Marine Weather by Bluefin
Meteoblue: weather app - Not avaiable 20/12/11
Mobile Grib (Pay): Any Good?
Rain Alarm or Rain Alarm Pro. Basically a straight weather radar history laid over Google Maps.
The Weather Channel (free) appeared to get a fairly good write up,
UK Weather (Free):
Weather Pro (pay £1.99?) Rain Radar and Satellite only complaint is sometimes it will not load the radar/satellite data and needs the cache to be manually emptied to get it to work.
Windguru

Book Readers
Set backgroun to black text to white saves battery and you can read in the dark (on watch)!
Aldiko (Free) Book Reader
Kindle (free)
Kobo (free) Book Reader
Laputa: Book reader Not available? 20 Dec 11
Wattpad (free) Book reader - and publisher! Any one fancy a cruising log section?
Zinio For those who want PBO YW on there phones..

Misc:
Barcode Scanner (Free)
Bubble (Free) Have actually found this really use full on a boat the day abilge keel was on rock and other in mud :o
Colour Flashlight (Free)
Flashlight (Free) Uses Flash can be very bright.
Dolphin Mini Browser(Free) is FAR better than the standard Android offering.
File Browser(Free)
Google Goggles(Free)
Google Sky Map(Free)
Iridium Flare (Free)
Saynoto0870 ( phone & PC )
Shopsavvy (Free)
Sketcher (allows hand writing /draw sketch then send)
Skymap. No, seriously, assuming you can get a suitable signal its far better with a good horizon.
Swype Free on Some phones. Market for "Shape writing" or Swype Once yo have been there you will not go back!

If you have never heard of it could be a way to whilst away a storm bound day?
C:GEO
Geocaching
Munzee
OpenCaching
Whereyougo
 
onesea said:
Navionics (Pay): Is it worth it? If you already have chart plotter what extras does it give? Advice please :o

.
Click to expand...

Had it for a year or so. Played with it a couple of times on board but tbh its a toy. You cannot sensibly navigate using it since the screen is too small and many of the normal plotter facilities are missing. I suppose it might be useable in an emergency but I would prefer one of my handheld GPS and paper charts for that.
 
Navionics app is bloody superb in my view.


The whole of the UK, Holland and France for 17 quid? Bargain. You also get UGC which a plotter may not have.
 
elton said:
Any ideas for boaty apps you'd like to see, that don't already exist? I'm just completing a big Android app and looking for something new to write.
Click to expand...

Going back to an old post but how about a forums app?
Do not think there is one for theres sites on android?
 
Gordonmc said:
A bit of Fred Drift, but if you have got your head around the Android rooting protocols, perhaps you have a few pointers.
I have been trying to manipulate a couple of cheap android tablets to use apps from Google's Market. I have Navionics and a few other marine apps on my HTC Desire but the idea of having the same on a sub-£100 tablet with a 7-inch screen is appealing.
The problem is that Google's licensing arrangements with device manufacturers prevents access to the Market if the user's Google account is not associated with a phone or tablet they approve of.
So - you can't download the apps.
I have managed to download CM93 charts to a tablet but of course the application will not work. I have found an application called MXMariner for Android but again, it is only available via Market and there are no European charts available.
I could buy a Samsung Galaxy tablet, but at roughly the same cost of a Netbook that defeats the object of the exercise.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

It's possible but needs a bit of fiddling to get the base file out of the phone which you paid for, You can then put it on as many devices as you like with a copy of the chart files.
 
onesea said:
Ok, for those of us who are "I"phobic for our own reasons what apps for Andriod do you know of out there for us "special" people :D

There are several I knew of then I started looking, there are plenty any you would recommend or not!


Boatie (Pay): on Andriod it does not do the currents (Iphone version does :mad:) you can get the other info just as quick online.

Anchor Alarm (Free): Are there any that phone another phone :confused:

Marina Codes (Pay): Pay App Personnally I text it to my crew then I have a copy to!

Tide Prediction (Free): Do not think there are many stations in uk :(

Marine Weather (Free): UK Edition:

Navionics (Pay): Is it worth it? If you already have chart plotter what extras does it give? Advice please :o

Compass App: Many free ones any recommended?

Google Maps/ Earth (free):

Sailors Log (free): Course & Speed in Knots also able to record tracks?

Boat Propeller Calculator (Free):

Mobile Grib (Pay): Any Good?

Marine Boat Log (free) : Maintenance Type Program.

UK Weather (Free): Any Good?

SailDroid (free): Basic wpt to wpt app.

Basic Regatta Timer (free):

Marine Traffic (free): AIS on your phone :D

sailingalmanac.co.uk: Web Based

Any more you would recommend?

None Nautical

Color flashlight HD (free): Thanks Markdj.

Flashlight (free): Uses the flash if you have one (Can be VERY bright)

If people are interested I will update above as and when...
Click to expand...
Ive got Navionics on my HTC, its brill worth every penny, tides included. Marine traffic, again brill, some compass app, fascinating, plus google sky, gob smackingly brill to place stars etc
Stu
 
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